Data imprinting mechanism



June 14, 1966 s. R. WALLACE 3,255,694

DATA IMPRINTING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (l 7/3114,

June 14, 1966 s. R. WALLACE 3,

DATA IMPRINTING MECHANISM Original Filed Dec. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WVE/VTOE 4; Q. 912% a/15 are ,4 TTOQ/VEKS United States Patent 3,255,694 DATA IMPRINTENG MECHANISM Stanley Robert Wallace, Baustead, England, assiguor to Moore Business Forms, 1uc., Niagara Falls, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 158,209, Dec. 11, 1961. This application Nov. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 409,893 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 14, 1960,

8 Claims. (Cl. 101113) This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 158,209, filed December 11, 1961, now abandoned.

This invention has reference to data imprinting mechanisms. It has particularly but not exclusive reference to autographic registers for recording transactions by handwriting and which include printing mechanisms having print wheels to imprint on continuous stationery fed from the autographic register the time at which the transaction recorded was made. Such devices are broadly old as exemplified by the following United States Letters Patent. No. 2,632,385, granted March 24, 1953, to Degen; No. 2,682,219, granted June 29, 1954, to Le Boeuf; and No. 2,682,833, granted July 6, 1954, to Gardinor et al.; and since the details of such registering, recording, stripfeeding, and time printing mechanisms form no specific part of the novelty in the present invention, the representations of these features are set forth herein merely in diagrammatic form.

In autographic registers of this kind, as used for example by bookmakers, it is usual for a clerk to write on the continuous stationery details of a betting transaction or transactions made. The autographic register is then operated by pulling on the operating lever so that the timeprintirig wheels included in the register (which indicate the correct time), imprint on the continuous stationery the time at which the transaction is made. At this time the stationery is fed, one or more parts being ejected from the register and one or more parts being fed to a security compartment in the register. United States Patent 2,- 682,833 exemplifies known mechanism whereby the imprinting of a time indicia is followed by the completion of the feeding of the webs. In certain of such autographic registers, it is possible to move the operating lever of the registers suiiiciently far to have the time imprinted on the stationery and at this stage to halt the form feeding operation and subsequently to enter details of a transaction on the form. Thus When the form has passed through the autographic register, details of the betting transaction will be shown as having been made at a certain time, whereas in fact details of this transaction were entered sometime after the time recorded. By this time the race, which is the subject of the transaction, has been run and it may be that the winners name has been wrongfullly entered on the stationery.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of data imprinting mechanism, so arranged that it is not possible to insert incorrect printed data on the form.

According to one aspect of the present invention in which the autographic register includes a print mechanism for printing variable time data as well as means for the imprinting or inscribing of other data by hand, there are provided means operative upon the initiation of said feeding and printing operation to operate a solenoid and to initiate a delay cycle, means operative at the end of the delay cycle to re-operate the solenoid to prevent further imprinting and feeding operations being effected.

One form of such an autographic register including means to record the time at which transactions imprinted on the form are eifected, and rendering invalid any further imprinting or inscribing after the lapse of a normal operative time interval, will now be described by way of ex ample with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an autographic register, partly cut away, and

FIG. 2 is a simplified circuit diagram of the time delay mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the autographic register 1 includes a pair of feed discs 2 (only one of which is shown) for feeding superimposed webs of continuous form stationery through the autographic register. The drive for these discs 2 is from an operating lever shaft 3, the geared segment 4 andthe clutch plate 5 to the discs 2. This drive is more fully described in the specification of British Patent No. 840,355, owned by the assignee of the present application, wherein spindle 18, quadrant 17, member 9, and feed devices 7 are the counterparts of the present shaft 3, segment 4, plate 5, and feed disc 2; these being the means for causing the operation of the register through its cycle of web feed, time printing, and ejection. Further prior art devices for initiating and controlling both the feeding of the web and the imprinting of the time thereon, are typified in United States Patent No. 2,632,385 by the axle of the lever 17, the quadrant 19, the disc 31, and the gear 23 and feed discs 7. Thus, no patentable novelty is predicated herein ion the-precise details of either the actual feed of the paper or the time printing mechanism, the latter feature being shown herein schematic or block diagram as representative of the time printing device of the co-pending British Patent No. 933,- 338 mentioned below. The actual novelty of the present invention thus has for its point of departure, the cyclic operating mechanism comprised essentially by the shaft 3, segment 4, and the plate 5.

Carbon transfer webs, not shown, are interleaved with the stationery webs for effecting the imprinting of the underlying webs when they are passed over a writing plate, and writing is imprinted on the top stationary web and is transferred to the lower webs by the carbon webs. A set of cyclometer type timing discs 6, carried by a housing 7 (pivoted to the frame as for example at 7b) and which constitute time-(printing mechanism, is disposed as near as possible to the feeding discs 2 on the infeeding side thereof. A printing platen 8 is arranged on the opposite side of the path through which the stationery webs pass for effecting the printing of the time record.

Any suitable cam means may be associated with the housing 7 and operates the timing discs to urge the timing discs into contact with the continuous stationery to effect an imprinting of the time at which the betting transaction is made. A satisfactory, way of effecting this at a selected point during the cycle of operation is to have a cam pin 2a, carried for example on one or more of the feed discs 2, strike a curved cam surface suggested at 7a on the time print housing. Such a mechanism is more fully described in the specification of British Patent 933,- 338, owned by the assignee of the present application, and which eventuated from copending application Ser No. 11,472/60, filed March 21, 1960.

Continuous stationery is fed from a storage compartment through a tension grid 10 above a writing plate in line with an aperture in the autographic register casing and thence to the time discs and feed discs 2. One or more parts of the continuous stationery is ejected from the register while one part is filed in the security com partment of the register, all as described in British Patent 840,355.

A microswitch 9 is associated with the camming edge 4a of segment 4 so that the contacts of the microswitch are closed at the beginning of the stationery feeding operation. The microswitch 9 is connected in an electrical circuit (FIG. 2) in series with the contacts 11 of a resetting relay 12 and a voltage dropping resistance 13 and a time delay unit 14. Another electrical circuit is arranged in parallel with the voltage dropping resistance 13 and time delay unit 14 of the first circuit which other circuit includes an operating solenoid 15. The armature 16 of this solenoid (FIGURE 1) is loaded by a spring 17 so that when the solenoid is de-energized a stop 18 fulcrumed on the frame as at 18a and pivoted to an extension arm of the armature, lies in the path of movement of the toothed segment 4 but when the solenoid is energized the stop 18 is retracted by the spring 17, one end of which may be connected at the point 18a, from such path of movement.

The delay unit 14 includes a pair of contacts 19 one of which is mounted on the end of an arm of a bi-metal strip and adjacent a heating element. The contacts 19 are connected in a third circuit which includes the operating coil of the resetting relay 12. A second microswitch 20 may also be connected in the circuit including the time delay unit in such a way as to break the circuit to the time delay unit 14 when the continuous stationery is first loaded into the register.

The plunger 21 accessible only from within the register is associated with the resetting contacts 11 to restore them to the closed position when in working condition. When the register is first installed these contacts 11 are open but are closed by depression of the plunger 21 to make the register operative. The closing of the contact 11, of course, energizes relay 12 which holds contact 11 closed until relay 12 is de-energized by the opening of the switch 19, whereupon contact 11 will be moved to open position as by means of a spring 11a; or by its own stiffness. An indicator lamp 31 is included to indicate that the register is working.

In the operation of the mechanism described, and assuming the continuous stationery is loaded in the autographic register and it is ready to operate, details for eX- ample, of a betting transaction are handwritten on the appropriate form length of the continuous stationery. The stationery is fed by pulling on an operating lever fixed to shaft 3 and movement of this operating lever causes the segment 4 to engage the microswitch 9 and cause closure of the contacts of this switch. Closure of these contacts makes a circuit through the solenoid 15 which causes the armature of the solenoid to be attracted so that the stop 18 is pulled out of the path of the segment 4. Normally the stationery is fed in a short period of time (a fraction of a second) and while the stationery is being fed the cam-unit 2a, 7a will cause the timing discs 6 to be moved into contact with the stationery to effect imprinting of the time at which the transaction is made. At the end of the printing operation, the toothed segment 4 will return to its starting position, the contacts of the microswitch 9 will open and the armature 16 will retract to its initial position.

If, however, the operator pulls the operating lever a sufficient distance to effect imprinting of the time of the transaction, but not sufficient to effect complete feeding of the forms through the autographic register, the microswitch 9 will remain closed and after a pre-determined period, for example 20 seconds, the delay unit 14 will be operated to open the contacts 19 and break the circuit to the relay 12. De-energizing of this relay 12 permits the contacts 11 to open and break the circuit to the operating solenoid to de-energise it and the armature of this solenoid will thereby be caused to move into the path of the toothed segment and stop further feeding. Operation of the delay unit 14 having opened the pair of contacts at 19 to break the holding circuit for the relay 12, autographic register is put out of operation until the supervisor can reopen the register and re-set the contacts 11 of the relay 12 by tripping the plunger 21. At this stage he will be aware that the betting transaction last made will be void.

The microswitch 20 associated with the loading is required because in such autographic registers it is required to pull the operating lever to load the forms between the feed discs and the cooperating rollers.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an autographic register having means for supporting and feeding webs of multiple forms therethrough, some of said webs to be ejected and another to be retained within the register, and means for imprinting time indicia upon a form on said webs before the form has been fed completely out of access: the improvement which comprises the combination of a common actuating means movable through an operating cycle to effect the progressive feeding of the web to move one form through the register within a predetermined time lapse, and at a given point in such progressive movement to cause the imprinting of the time onto said form, blocking means for said actuating means effective at least during idle condition of the register, means to render said blocking means inoperative substantially immediately upon the initiation of the cycle of operation of said actuating means, means also activated at substantially the initiation of the cycle to start a time delay operation of longer duration than said predetermined feed time lapse, means automatically operative at the termination of said time delay operation to render the said blocking means operative, whereby the completion of the operative cycle is prevented if it has not been accomplished within a time limit measured by the duration of said time delay operation.

2. In an autographic register having means for supporting and feeding webs of multiple forms therethrough, some of said webs to be ejected and another to be retained within the register, and means for imprinting time indicia upon a form on said webs before the form has been fed completely out of access: the improvement which comprises the combination of a common actuating means movable through an operating cycle to effect the progressive feeding of the web to move one form through the register within a predetermined time lapse, and at a given point in such progressive movement to cause the imprinting of the time onto said form, a blocking element disposed in the path of movement of a portion of said actuating means at least during idle condition of the register, electromagnetic means to withdraw said blocking element from said path, an electric circuit containing said electromagnetic means and a normally open first switch adapted to be closed by said actuating means substantially immediately upon initiation of its cycle of operation, whereby said blocking means is withdrawn for normal actuation of said web feed and imprinting cycle, a delay circuit controlling said first named circuit, means for energizing said delay circuit also substantially at the commencement of said cycle, the setting of the delay circuit being for a time limit longer than said time lapse of the operating cycle for normal operation, and means actuated by said delay circuit upon the expiration of said delay time for breaking said first named circuit and effecting the restoration of said blocking element to blocking position. 1

3. In an autographic register having means for supporting and feeding webs of multiple forms therethrough, some of said webs to be ejected and another to be retained within the register, and means for imprinting time indicia upon a form on said webs before the form has been fed completely out of access: the improvement which comprises the combination of a common actuating means movable through an operating cycle to effect the progressive feeding of the web to move one form through the register within a predetermined time lapse, and at a given point in such progressive movement to cause the imprinting of the time onto said form, a blocking element disposed in the path of movement of a portion of said actuating means at least during idle condition of the register, electromagnetic means to withdraw said blocking element from said path, an electric circuit containing said electromagnetic means and a normally open first switch adapted to be closed by said actuating means substantially immediately upon initiation of its cycle of operation, whereby said blocking means is withdrawn for normal actuation of said web feed and imprinting cycle, a second switch in said circuit normally closed at least during periods of use of the reigster, a narmally energized holding circuit including said second named switch and a holding electromagnet maintaining said switch in closed condition while energized, a normally closed third switch in said holding circuit, a delay circuit controlling said holding circuit and therefore said first named circuit, said delay circuit also including the first named switch whereby its energization is initiated upon the closing thereof at the commencement of said cycle, the setting of the delay circuit being for a time limit longer than said time lapse of the operating cycle for normal operation, and a delayed action means in said delay circuit operating on said third named switch to eifect the opening thereof upon the expiration of said delay time for breaking said holding circuit thus efiecting the opening of the second named switch to also break said first named circuit thus eifecting the restoration of said blocking element to blocking position.

4. The autographic register as set forth in claim 3 in which said second named switch is biased toward open position and manually operated means are provided for restoring said switch to closed position to be held therein by said holding circuit.

5. The autographic register as set forth in claim 3 in which a manually operated switch is provided in said delay circuit which may be opened to render the circuit inoperative as during the loading of the register.

6. The autographic register as set forth in claim 3 in which said second named switch is biased toward open position and manually operated means are provided for restoring said switch to closed position to be held therein by said holding circuit, in which there are provided a manually operated switch in said delay circuit which may be opened to render the circuit inoperative as during the loading of the register, and a signal lamp in a circuit in parallel with said first named switch and block element controlling electromagnet, but in series with said third named switch.

7. In an autographic register having means for supporting and feeding webs of multiple forms therethrough, some of said webs to be ejected and another to be retained within the register, and means for imprinting time indicia upon a form on said webs before the form has been fed completely out of access: the improvement which comprises the combination of a common actuating means movable through an operating cycle to effect the progressive feeding of the web to move one form through the register within a predetermined time lapse, and at a given point in such progressive movement to cause the imprinting of the time onto said form, mean-s also activated at substantially the initiation of the cycle to start a time delay operation of longer duration than said predetermined feed time lapse, a blocking means which when actuated will prevent the completion of the operating cycle, means automatically operative at the termination of said time delay operation to actuate said blocking means whereby the completion of the operating cycle is prevented if it has not been accomplished within a time limit measured by the duration of said time delay operation.

8. The improvement set forth in claim 7 in which there are provided means for moving said blocking means to idle condition, and a normally locked enclosure for said moving means, whereby it is inaccessible to all but those having a key to said locked enclosure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 546,427 9/1895 Norcross 101-113 1,254,988 1/1918 Crouse 101113 1,560,866 11/1925 Sherman 101-113 2,632,385 3/1953 Degen 101-90 2,682,219 6/1954 La Boeuf 101-292 2,682,833 7/1954 Gardinor et a1. 101-113 WILLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND FEEDING WEBS OF MULTIPLE FORMS THERETHROUGH, SOME OF SAID WEBS TO BE EJECTED AND ANOTHER TO BE RETAINED WITHIN THE REGISTER, AND MEANS FOR IMPRINTING TIME INDICIA UPON A FORM ON SAID WEBS BEFORE THE FORM HAS BEEN FED COMPLETELY OUT OF ACCESS: THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES THE COMBINATION OF A COMMON ACTUATING MEANS MOVABLE THROUGH AN OPERATING CYCLE TO EFFECT THE PROGRESSIVE FEEDING OF THE WEB TO MOVE ONE FORM THROUGH THE REGISTER WITHIN A PREDETERMINED TIME LAPSE, AND AT A GIVEN POINT IN SUCH PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT TO CAUSE THE IMPRINTING OF THE TIME ONTO SAID FORM, BLOCKING MEANS FOR SAID ACTUATING MEANS EFFECTIVE AT LEAST DURING IDLE CONDITION OF THE REGISTER MEANS TO RENDER SAID BLOCKING MEANS INOPERATIVE SUBSTANTIALLY IMMEDIATELY UPON THE INITIATION OF THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF SAID ACTUATING MEANS, MEANS ALSO ACTIVATED AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE INITIATION OF THE CYCLE TO START A TIME DELAY OPERATION OF LONGER DURATION THAN SAID PREDETERMINED FEED TIME LAPSE, MEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERATIVE AT THE TERMINATION OF SAID TIME DELAY OPERATION TO RENDER THE SAID BLOCKING MEANS OPERATIVE, WHEREBY THE COMPLETION OF THE OPERATIVE CYCLE IS PREVENTED IF IT HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN A TIME LIMIT MEASURED BY THE DURATION OF SAID TIME DELAY OPERATION. 